The most recent meeting of the Braxton County Board of Education was held on October 1 at the board office.
The meeting opened with a presentation from Dr. Leatha Williams on the 2024-2025 Strategic Plan and follow-up on the testing data. The plan has been approved by the state department and the county will be receiving the appropriated funds. Lori Stover-Williams and Susan Schiefer also spoke to board members on the plan about the goals, addressing chronic absenteeism, and community/parent involvement. Lori Stover-Williams noted that this is the first time the goals set in the strategic plan match with the board’s and the superintendent’s goals. Dr. Williams and Lori Stover-Williams both noted there were high expectations in those goals but the expectations would lead to huge rewards in the end. Dr. Williams also stated there were supports in place in reach the goals and that the first step was building up the confidence of staff and students.
Superintendent Dr. Donna Burge-Tetrick talked to board members about school safety. She stated the school safety survey would be going out later in the week for parents, staff and students. The Emergent 3 public safety app will go out to schools as well. Dr. Burge-Tetrick noted the school safety assemblies were very successful. The Superintendent reiterated that they were taking safety seriously.
She also noted the middle school received their uniforms. These were refurbished uniforms purchased at a discounted price.
In regular action, the board approved the payment of bills and budget transfers and supplements on a motion by Lisa Ratliff.
The following personnel recommendations were approved on a motion by Dr. Kenna Seal: resignations of Lisa Dennison-Brady, special education teacher, Davis, Pam Shuman, substitute teacher, Amy Mullins, substitute teacher, John Schiefer, substitute teacher, Jacob Long, substitute teacher, and Courtney Mollohan, custodian, BCMS; employment of Nathaniel Perry, technology/WVEIS coordinator, Christina McCourt, ECCAT/aide PK, Flatwoods, Breann Baultrippe, supervisory/transportation/instruction/special education aide, Sutton, Chesney Brown, supervisory/transportation/instruction/special education aid, Sutton, Cindy Stewart, ECCAT/aide, K, Frametown, Addi Facemire, ECCAT/aide PK, Burnsville, Gloria Belknap, substitute aide, James Smallwood, III, long term substitute custodian, BCHS, Ryan Singleton, $1 assistant athletic director, BCHS, Lindsey Harman, school technology contact, Davis, Brittany Conley, school technology contact, Flatwoods, Natalie Rhodes, assistant volleyball coach, BCMS; Step 3 pay increase for Melinda Devilleneuve and Janis Hughes, special education teachers; Summer Mays-GSU student, unpaid intern; permission to post and hire one itinerant special education aide for BCMS and BC Alternative School; and leave of absence for Melissa Dittman, teacher, Frametown.
The board approved for Special Education Director Christina Bailey to attend the Council for Exceptional Children Conference, March 12-15, in Baltimore, MD on a motion by Lisa Ratliff.
On a motion by Larry Hardway, the board approved to pay Linda Sears for unused vacation days, per BCBOE Policy 3630. Board President Evelyn Post and other board members thanked Sears for her years of service and dedication to the Braxton County school system.
There were no comments on the Proposed Revision to Policy 3500-Reduction in Force Professional Employees. It was approved for the second reading and will now move on for final approval on a motion by Dr. Kenna Seal.
The first reading of Proposed Revision to Policy 2402-Retention was postponed.
The meeting ended with board members thanking Dr. Williams and her team for their presentation. Larry Hardway noted individuals in the community are excited about the new facilities coming for the students and community. President Post said the ad-hoc committee needs to have a meeting to discuss the property purchase and the new facilities plans.
Dr. Kenna Seal stated the board needs to continue supporting and encouraging the changes going on in the school system. He, and President Post, requested that the item “Continuous School Improvement” be added back to the agenda for future meetings as that is one of the required meeting topics by the state department. Dr. Burge-Tetrick noted that the individual school updates at each meeting will meet that requirement, but she would have that added back.
President Post stated that with the upcoming Veterans Day celebrations she was planning a writing contest with cash prizes at the elementary level that would be completely voluntary. More information would be coming out soon about the contest. The Veterans Day Parade will be held on Saturday, November 9 in Gassaway.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:18 pm. The next regular meeting will be October 15 at 6:00 pm.